About Us

Elected Sheriff for a third full term, Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman is responsible for the care, custody and control of inmates at one of the urban correctional facilities in the United States. In addition to caring for approximately 2,100 inmates each day, the Sheriff is the Executive Officer for the Criminal and Civil Courts in New Orleans, where he is responsible for the service of subpoenas, courtroom security, and executory process.

Sheriff Gusman is a graduate of the National Sheriffs' Institute (NSI). He is a member of the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) and serves on its Crime Victims Services Committee. He is also a member of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association (LSA); the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and the American Correctional Association (ACA) where he also serves on its Adult Local Detention Committee. Sheriff Gusman is also a member of the National Correctional Industries Association (NCIA), and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).

Following his graduation from Jesuit High School, Sheriff Gusman attended the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, where he obtained a Bachelor of Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts. He received his Juris Doctor from Loyola University and was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar in 1984. He successfully completed the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University.

Sheriff Gusman has been praised for his accomplishments during Katrina and for the reforms made at Orleans Parish Prison. Sheriff Gusman is an advocate for rehabilitation and education as a way to break the cycle of crime and violence among young people in New Orleans. He has instituted a Day Reporting Center for probation/parole violators; a regional re-entry program to reduce recidivisms; education dorms and learning centers in the facilities.

Prior to his election as Sheriff, he served as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the highest appointed city official and chief financial officer, of the City of New Orleans in the administration of Mayor Marc H. Morial. In his first bid for public office in 2000, he was elected to fill the City Council District "D" seat, and he was re-elected in 2002. While on the City Council, he served as Chairman of the Council's Budget, Audit and Board of Review Committee, and the Governmental Affairs Committee; as well as a member of the City Park Improvement Association and the Sewerage & Water Board.

He is a member and past President of the Regional Loan Corporation, a member of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Committee, and on the Board for Boys Town of Louisiana, YMCA and several other local organizations.